20-Minute Thanksgiving Leftover Turkey Stew (So Easy!)

Imagine a warm, deeply comforting bowl of stew that tastes like it simmered for hours, but actually comes together in just 20 minutes using the best parts of your holiday feast. That, my friends, is the brilliant, soul-warming magic of this Leftover Turkey Stew. It’s a hearty, one-pot wonder that transforms your Thanksgiving leftovers into a completely new and incredibly delicious meal. This is, without a doubt, the coziest and smartest way to enjoy the day after Thanksgiving.

Get ready to transform your leftovers into the most comforting, delicious stew you’ve ever had, and create a new post-holiday tradition in the process.

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Why This Leftover Stew is an Absolute Must-Make!

You are going to be so impressed with how a few simple leftovers can create a meal this rich and satisfying. It’s a post-holiday lifesaver. Here’s why you have to try it:

• Ready in Just 20 Minutes: This is the ultimate fast and flavorful meal. Since everything is already cooked, it’s just a matter of combining and heating through.
• The BEST Use of Leftover Gravy: This recipe brilliantly uses leftover gravy as the rich, flavorful heart of the stew base, ensuring no delicious drop goes to waste.
• A Complete One-Pot Meal: You have your protein, your vegetables, and your savory sauce all in one hearty bowl. It’s a perfectly balanced and satisfying dinner.
• Reduces Food Waste Beautifully: This is a delicious and practical way to use up a wide variety of Thanksgiving leftovers, from turkey and veggies to that last bit of gravy.
• Pure Comfort in a Bowl: This stew is warm, savory, and deeply comforting—the perfect cozy meal for a relaxing day after the big holiday feast.

Recipe Snapshot

Your Leftovers “Shopping List”

This recipe is all about raiding your fridge for those delicious holiday remnants. Here are the key players you’ll need:

→ The Essentials (From the Fridge!)

• 4 cups leftover roasted vegetables → A mix of carrots, Brussels sprouts, potatoes, or sweet potatoes is perfect. Cut them into bite-size pieces.
• 3 cups shredded cooked turkey → Both white and dark meat work beautifully.
• 2 cups leftover gravy → This is the secret to an instantly flavorful stew!

→ Pantry Staples

• 1 tablespoon olive oil → For sautéing the onion.
• 1½ cups chopped yellow onion → The aromatic foundation of our stew.
• 4 cups unsalted chicken or turkey broth → To create the perfect stew consistency.
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley → For a bright, fresh finish.
• Salt and ground pepper → To taste.

Let’s Make Stew! Your 20-Minute Guide

Ready to create the coziest, easiest stew of your life? This comes together in a flash in just one pot.

Part 1: Build the Flavor Base

1. Sauté the Onion: Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 6 minutes. You want the onion to soften and get a little bit of golden-brown color on the edges for maximum flavor.
2. Create the Broth: Pour in the chicken or turkey broth and the glorious leftover gravy. Stir everything together and bring the mixture to a boil.

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Part 2: Combine and Serve

3. Add the Leftovers: Stir in your bite-sized pieces of leftover roasted vegetables and the shredded turkey. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for just 2 to 3 minutes, until everything is heated through.
4. Finish and Serve: Turn off the heat and stir in the fresh parsley, salt, and pepper. Give it a taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. Ladle the hot, hearty stew into bowls and enjoy immediately!

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20-Minute Leftover Turkey Stew

This hearty turkey stew recipe is the best use of Thanksgiving leftovers! Ready in just 20 minutes, it transforms leftover turkey, roasted vegetables, and gravy into a new, incredibly delicious, and comforting one-pot meal.

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Servings: 4

Course: Dinner, Main Course, Soup

Cuisine: American

Calories: 428

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1.5 cups chopped yellow onion
• 4 cups unsalted chicken broth or turkey broth
• 2 cups leftover gravy
• 4 cups leftover roasted vegetables cut into bite-size pieces
• 3 cups shredded cooked turkey
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper or to taste

Equipment

• Large heavy pot or Dutch oven

Method

 

1. Heat oil in a large, heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and starting to brown, about 6 minutes.
2. Add broth and leftover gravy; bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally.
3. Stir in leftover vegetables and turkey; cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 2 to 3 minutes.
4. Remove from heat. Stir in the fresh parsley, salt, and pepper. Serve hot.

Notes

Use Your Gravy!: The leftover gravy is the key to this stew’s rich, instant flavor and perfect thickness. Don’t skip it!

Don’t Overcook: All the main ingredients are already cooked, so this final stage is just about heating everything through. A few minutes is all you need.

Storage: Leftover stew can be stored in the fridge for 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat gently on the stovetop.

WiseRecipes’ Top Tips for the Best Leftover Stew

These simple secrets will help you make the most of your holiday leftovers.

1. Gravy is Your Secret Weapon. Don’t even think about skipping the gravy! It’s already packed with all the delicious roasted flavors from your Thanksgiving dinner and acts as a thickener and a flavor bomb all in one. It’s what makes this stew taste like it cooked for hours.
2. Cut Everything to Bite-Size. For the best eating experience, take a moment to chop your leftover turkey and larger roasted vegetables into uniform, bite-sized pieces. This ensures you get a perfect mix of everything in every spoonful.
3. Don’t Overcook the Leftovers. Remember, everything you’re adding to the stew is already cooked. The final step is just about heating them through. A few minutes is all it takes—you don’t want your vegetables to turn to mush.
4. Fresh Herbs Make a Difference. The final stir-in of fresh parsley is more important than you might think. It adds a burst of bright, fresh, herbaceous flavor that cuts through the richness of the stew and makes it taste vibrant and new.
5. Serve with Crusty Bread. While the stew is a complete meal on its own, it is absolutely divine served with a piece of crusty bread for dipping into that rich, savory broth.

Keep It Fresh! Storing Your Turkey Stew

This stew makes for fantastic leftovers of your leftovers!

• Refrigerator: Store leftover stew in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The flavors will continue to meld and it’s often even better the next day.
• Freezing: This stew freezes beautifully! Let it cool completely, then portion it into freezer-safe containers or bags. It will keep for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
• Reheating: Gently reheat the stew in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through. You can also reheat it in the microwave.

FAQs: Your Leftover Stew Questions, Answered!

What if I don’t have any leftover gravy?

No problem! You can create a quick gravy-like base. In the pot after sautéing the onions, melt 3 tablespoons of butter. Whisk in 3 tablespoons of flour and cook for a minute. Then, slowly whisk in the 4 cups of broth and let it simmer until it thickens before you add the turkey and veggies.

Can I add other Thanksgiving leftovers?

Absolutely! This is a very forgiving recipe. If you have leftover green beans, corn, or even a scoop of stuffing, you can stir them in at the end. Just be mindful that stuffing will thicken the stew considerably.

Can I use a slow cooker for this?

Since all the ingredients are already cooked, a slow cooker isn’t really necessary and might overcook the vegetables. This recipe is designed to be a quick, 20-minute meal on the stovetop. If you want to use a slow cooker to keep it warm for serving, that would work perfectly on the “keep warm” setting.

How can I make this creamy?

If your gravy wasn’t very creamy and you’d like a richer stew, you can stir in a splash of heavy cream or full-fat coconut milk (for a dairy-free option) at the very end with the parsley.

Final Thoughts: The Coziest Second Act

There is such a comforting and resourceful feeling that comes from transforming the remnants of a great feast into an entirely new, warm, and satisfying meal. This Leftover Turkey Stew is the perfect encore to your holiday celebration. It’s a delicious, no-fuss way to continue enjoying the flavors you love. I hope it becomes a cherished tradition in your post-holiday kitchen. Enjoy!